In Bhagavad Gita 18.11, Krishna says it is impossible for an embodied being to give up action entirely; one who relinquishes the fruits of action is the true relinquisher.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न हि देहभृता शक्यं
त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी
स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ॥ १८-११ ॥
na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ
tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ
yastu karmaphalatyāgī
sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate
English transliteration na hi dehabhritaa shakyam
tyaktum karmaanyasheshatah
yastu karmaphalatyaagee
sa tyaageetyabhidheeyate ॥ 18.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It is indeed impossible for an embodied being to give up actions entirely. But one who relinquishes the fruits of action is called a true relinquisher.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| हि hi | indeed |
| देहभृता dehabhṛtā | for an embodied being deha (body) + bhṛtā (bearer) |
| शक्यम् śakyam | possible |
| त्यक्तुम् tyaktum | to give up |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| अशेषतः aśeṣataḥ | entirely |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| तु tu | but |
| कर्मफलत्यागी karmaphalatyāgī | one who relinquishes the fruits of action karma (action) + phala (fruits) + tyāgī (relinquisher) |
| सः saḥ | he |
| त्यागी tyāgī | relinquisher |
| इति iti | thus |
| अभिधीयते abhidhīyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- na hi de–ha–bhṛ–tā śak–yaṃ 8 syllables na hi de-ha-bhri-taa shak-yam
- tyak–tuṃ kar–māṇ–ya–śe–ṣa–taḥ | 8 syllables tyak-tum kar-maan-ya-she-sha-tah
- yas–tu kar–ma–pha–lat–yā–gī 8 syllables yas-tu kar-ma-pha-lat-yaa-gee
- sa tyā–gīt–ya–bhi–dhī–ya–te || 18-11 8 syllables sa tyaa-geet-ya-bhi-dhee-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 11
Context
Krishna describes the true relinquisher (18.10–18.12).
Meaning
As long as we have a body, we cannot stop acting entirely; breathing, eating and thinking are actions. Therefore true tyāga cannot mean giving up action. The real tyāgī is the karma-phala-tyāgī, the one who gives up the fruits.
This is a decisive argument. Since action is unavoidable, the only real renunciation is inner.
In Practice
Instead of trying to escape your responsibilities, practise inner relinquishment of results today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.